Posted on 05/21/2011 7:22:21 AM PDT by Holen1
The cast for the $1-million Preakness Stakes (G1) is finally fully assembled as a trio of classic aspirants, including Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Animal Kingdom, arrived at the Pimlico Race Course stakes barn early Saturday morning.
The crowd began arriving shortly thereafter and all were greeted by Sunny skies and a cool breeze, foreshadowing what could be one of the nicest days of weather a big event in American racing in years.
Animal Kingdom shipped southwest from trainer H. Graham Motion’s base at Fair Hill Training Center at 5:32 a.m. EDT and arrived in Baltimore at about 6:45 without incident. About an hour earlier, Concealed Identity and Norman Asbjornson both arrived after a trip East from Bowie Training Center.
Animal Kingdom took up residence in Stall 40, which is traditionally reserved for the Derby winner, while also receiving a walk and a bath on Preakness morning. Four Preakness horses—Astrology, Flashpoint, Mucho Macho Man, and Mr. Commons—visited the track for “light exercise” from 5:30-6.
The Preakness field with (Black-Eyed Susan double will pay) and odds to win
1. Astrology (102.20), 13-to-1
2. Norman Asbjornson ($558.30), 30-to-1
3. King Congie ($180.40), 21-to-1
4. Flashpoint ($165.80), 24-to-1
5. Shackleford ($120.60), 12-to-1
6. Sway Away ($49.80), 14-to-1
7. Midnight Interlude ($122.20), 9-to-1
8. Dance City ($71), 10-to-1
9. Mucho Macho Man ($49), 6-to-1
10. Dialed In ($35), 3-to-1
11. Animal Kingdom ($21), 3-to-1
12. Isn’t He Perfect ($917.60), 23-to-1
13. Concealed Identity ($483), 20-to-1
14. Mr. Commons ($231.20), 45-to-1
There could be a huge payday in this race. Maybe the ghost of Unbridled will propel Shackleford.
Doubt he’ll get an easy lead like in the Derby, but I wouldn’t leave him out of the exotics.
One of my many superfecta bets will be 6,9 with 1,4,11,14 with 1,4,11,14 with 1,4,11,14.
I had $20 on MMM in the first Derby fUTURES pool months ago,
locked in at 30-1, and he was overlooked also in the 2nd and 3rd pools. A week before the KD they started paying attention to him, finally. Today he makes amends,but probably at no more than 5-1. Only four horses can be eliminated from this Preakness for top -4 placing, and those are 2,7,12,13. Mr. Commons is the value horse that could surprise at a price. But my heart in with MMM.
Can’t knock AK’s chances, though—just don’t think he’ll win today. WOULD be good though, as it would set up the excitement for another Triple Crown winner YET AGAIN.
Well, well, well...start the day off with a winner as Graham Motion’s horse comes home at 6-1, in the first.
Might just be a big day for Mr. Motion. Keep an eye on his trainees.
I am partial to the 6.
Good luck.
Speed not holding up so far.
Not enough odds for me, but I’d throw some money at #9.
Ooohhh YYYYeah !!!
bttt
That would be fitting. Savage was the man.
#5 in the third...
Dance City is intriguing. AK’s name sucks.
Whew, the 5 wins by a nostril. 2 for 2 for G. Motion.
Would love to see Animal Kingdom win the Triple Crown and turn the breeding world upside down.
It would be fitting for Mucho Macho Man to win. The Macho Man, Randy Savage (Poffo) will be watching from above.
When I saw “Animal Kingdom comes to Pimlico,” I thought this article was going to be about the party in the infield. I survived one trip to the Preakness infield, in 1989. I’m glad I was there to see it once, and I’ll never do it again. It’s insane.
}:-)4
“I survived one trip to the Preakness infield, in 1989.”
Sunday Silence/Easy Goer. Great year. One of my last infields. Did infields until my early ‘30s.
You wrote: “Would love to see Animal Kingdom win the Triple Crown and turn the breeding world upside down.”
Yeah, me too. bttt
But didn’t want to pick the favorite so looked for another horse (other than Dialed In -also a favorite) that could possibly beat them.
This is my take on the race which I sent out to my email list earlier:
Barring any mishaps, Sway Away, Flashpoint, Shackleford and Dance City should be among the leaders out of the gate and (unlike in the KY Derby) setting a very fast pace. I think either Mucho Macho Man or Animal Kingdom will overtake them and Dance City will wind up third.
I’m picking Mucho Macho Man to win even though I’d love to see Animal Kingdom win today and sweep the Triple Crown by also winning the Belmont Stakes in a couple of weeks.
Mucho Macho Man was closing like hell in the KY Derby. Then I found this bit of info on him:
After a 3rd place finish at the Kentucky Derby, Mucho Macho Man is looking forward to a rematch with Animal Kingdom and taking advantage of the shorter distance and predicted nice weather (90 degrees and sunny) that would suit his style of racing. Even though Mucho Macho Man does not even turn 3 until June 15th, this horse is possibly the most experienced one in the field. His 9-2-3-3 record consists of starts at seven different distances (from six furlongs up to 1 1/4 miles) at seven tracks in five states. Over the course of his nine starts, Mucho Macho Man has only been worse than a 4th place finisher only once. This horse is as gritty as they come and displayed his heart when finishing 3rd at the Louisiana Derby despite losing a shot out of the gate.
Sounds good to me. :)
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